Alderamin on the Sky

The central figure in this peculiar anime series is an unlikely soldier named Ikta Solork. Serving in the army of the Katjvarna Empire, Ikta's uncommon military genius is matched by his unapologetic laziness and womanizing. Set in an alternate past—modern technology is conspicuously absent, but the armed forces are gender-integrated—the story surrounds Ikta with a group of colleagues who include red-headed swordswoman Yatori, self-doubting sharpshooter Torway, heavyset (and seemingly talent-bereft) Matthew, and 12-year-old Princess Chamille, who is the object of nefarious plans by the rival Kioka Republic. But the spotlight inevitably shifts back to Ikta, with each episode highlighting his ability to use his smarts to win the day despite his desire to lay around and flirt with the girls. A subplot about Ikta's scientist/warrior father, who ultimately defected to the Kioka Republic, feels more like an afterthought. The series meanders along, with Ikta's comrades coming across as one-dimensional stock characters who only look on in amazement at Ikta's skills and roll their eyes at his vices. Presenting all 13 episodes from 2016 in a dual-language Blu-ray/DVD Combo edition, rated TV-MA, this is an optional purchase. (P. Hall)